What size hard drive do I need?

2nd May 2025

You need a storage solution that allows you to keep files and run apps, but without wasting money on a product you don’t need: what are your options?

A hard drive refers to the data storage devices used in computers to store digital information. Most devices will have one built in, with many allowing for consumers to improve and upgrade their hard drives, allowing for more storage.

With that being said, what size hard drive is best for you? We’ve split the standard storage amounts – measured in gigabytes (GB) and the larger terabytes (TB) – into four categories, explaining what they are best for and who should use them:

500GB to 1TB – this is the most basic level of hard drive storage, ideal for those who have a computer for simple purposes, like basic media streaming, storing photos and running small applications.

2TB to 4TB – if you need to store large amounts of data, including high-resolution photos or videos, this is the hard drive option you need. Gamers, content creators or anyone with an extensive media library (me included, as each of these blogs has a corresponding video you can find on our LinkedIn) needs more space to accommodate larger file sizes.

6TB to 10TB – professionals who use large datasets or need the hard drive space for video editing on a greater scale will benefit from this amount of space. Additionally, if you need to back up your data or videos you’d need twice as much storage space, making this the necessary choice.

12TB plus – this probably won’t apply to most, but if you need an enterprise level storage solution, including servers and data centres, then this will be the level of storage needed.

It is worth remembering that if you need a larger hard drive, but it is too expensive or impossible to implement on your device, you always have cloud storage as a cheaper and more convenient option.

You may also want to consider upgrading your storage as you go: if you’re not sure how much storage you are going to need, simply start small and build as you need.

Want to learn more about storage options? Interfuture Systems can help – talk to us HERE.